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Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement and compare the ratio with the WHO screening cutoffs for men and women.

Level: Grade 6

Printable worksheet

Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Inputs
Sex

The WHO cutoffs differ for men and women.

Measured in

Result

Waist-to-hip ratio

0.8

A waist-to-hip ratio of 0.80 is below the WHO screening cutoff of 0.85 for women. It is a screening measure, not a diagnosis.

Screening indicator
Below the WHO screening cutoff
WHO cutoff for women
0.85

See the step-by-step solution ↓

Step-by-step solution

  1. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. Both use the same unit, so the units cancel out

    32 in40 in=0.8

  2. Round to two decimals, since that's how the cutoffs are published, and compare with the WHO cutoff for women (0.85)

    0.8 < 0.85=Below the WHO screening cutoff

Test yourself

20 quick questions built from this calculator's formula: work out results, predict what happens when an input changes, and work backward from an answer. Every answer comes with the working.

Please note: This calculator gives a general screening estimate, not a diagnosis. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health.

What this calculator does

Find your waist-to-hip ratio and see how it compares with the World Health Organization (WHO) screening cutoff. The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) compares the distance around your waist with the distance around your hips. It describes where your body carries its size, not how much you weigh. So it's often used alongside BMI as a quick check of fat stored around the belly (the abdomen), with nothing but a tape measure.

Enter the two measurements, and the calculator divides the waist by the hips. Then it compares the result with the cutoffs from a WHO expert panel: 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women. A ratio at or above the cutoff is a screening sign worth talking over with a healthcare professional. It isn't a diagnosis. And a ratio below the cutoff isn't a clean bill of health.

Where it's used

Why this math matters outside the classroom:

  • Finding the ratio. A 32-inch waist and a 40-inch hip give a ratio of 32 ÷ 40, which is 0.80.
  • Units cancel. Centimeters and inches give the same ratio, since 81 ÷ 102 and 32 ÷ 40 both come to about 0.8.
  • Comparing to cutoffs. Students compare a computed ratio with the published WHO cutoffs of 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women.
  • Tracking change. People log waist and hip measurements every few weeks to follow the ratio alongside their weight.
  • Research studies. Researchers record waist-hip ratio in studies because it reflects where body fat sits, not only how much there is.

Grade level and standards: Grade 6; Common Core State Standards for Mathematics 6.RP.A.1. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

How to use it

  1. Choose your sex, since the screening cutoff is different for men and women.
  2. Pick the unit you measured in. Both measurements must use the same unit.
  3. Enter your waist and hip measurements.
  4. Read the ratio and whether it falls below, or at or above, the WHO cutoff.

What the inputs mean

Sex
The WHO cutoffs differ for men and women.
Measured in
The ratio has no unit. So inches and centimeters give the same answer, as long as both measurements use the same one.
Waist circumference
The WHO method measures the waist halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone. Measure at the end of a normal breath out. Keep the tape snug, but not pressing into the skin.
Hip circumference
Measure around the widest part of the buttocks, keeping the tape level all the way around.

Formula and method

WHR = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference
Screening cutoff: men ≥ 0.90, women ≥ 0.85

WHR stands for waist-to-hip ratio, and circumference means the distance around. The ratio is a simple division. Both measurements are in the same unit, so the unit cancels out and you get a plain number. For adults, it's usually somewhere between about 0.7 and 1.1.

The cutoffs are published to two decimals. So the calculator rounds your ratio to two decimals before comparing it with the cutoff for the sex you chose. That means a ratio of 0.847 counts as 0.85 for a woman, and it's shown as at or above the cutoff.

Worked example

A woman measures her waist at 32 inches and her hips at 40 inches.

  1. Divide the waist by the hip: 32 ÷ 40 = 0.8.
  2. Rounded to two decimals that is 0.80, which is below the 0.85 cutoff for women.

Result: Her waist-to-hip ratio is 0.80, below the WHO screening cutoff for women.

Understanding the result

A lower ratio means your waist is small compared with your hips. A higher ratio means more of your body's width is around the middle. Research has linked a higher ratio with a greater chance of conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. That's why it's used as a screening measure.

A ratio at or above the cutoff doesn't mean you have, or will get, any condition. It's a sign that talking with a doctor or nurse, who can look at your whole picture, may be worthwhile.

Tracking your ratio over time, measured the same way each time, can tell you more than a single reading.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Both measurements are taken on bare skin or over light clothing, in the same unit, using the same method.
  • The person is an adult. The cutoffs weren't designed for children, teenagers or pregnancy.
  • Small measuring differences matter. A one-inch change in the waist can move the ratio by more than 0.02.
  • The cutoffs are general screening values. Some research and national guidelines use different values for certain ethnic groups, which this calculator doesn't apply.
  • The ratio says nothing about overall size. Two people with very different weights can have the same ratio.
  • It isn't a measure of body fat percentage, and it can't diagnose any condition.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly should I measure my waist?

The WHO method puts the tape halfway between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after a normal breath out. Other methods use the navel (belly button) or the narrowest point. Any method works for tracking, as long as you use the same one each time.

Why are the cutoffs different for men and women?

Men and women tend to store fat in different places, and women usually have wider hips compared with the waist. The published cutoffs reflect those typical differences.

Is the waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?

They answer different questions. BMI compares weight with height, while the waist-to-hip ratio describes body shape. Many health professionals look at both, along with other information, instead of relying on either one.

Does it matter whether I use inches or centimeters?

No. The ratio is the same in any unit, as long as both measurements use the same unit.

Are my measurements stored?

No. The calculation runs in your browser, and this calculator doesn't offer a shareable link containing your measurements.

How this calculator is checked

Method: Waist ÷ hip circumference; cutoffs of 0.90 (men) and 0.85 (women) from the WHO expert consultation report on waist circumference and waist-hip ratio (2008). The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-18. Found a problem? Tell us.

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